Marine fire-extinguishing system



Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,267

- v. G. w. GILBERT ET AL MARINE FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 15. 1921 2 Sheets-Shget 1 flwr ame 5 $1, @dz

Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,267

V. G. W. GILBERT ET AL.

MARINE FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 15.. 1921 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wweir Fran/z/H Siemzfie,

Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

MARINE FIRE-EXTINGUISHI NG SYSTEM,

Application filed September The invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus, in which normally separated chemical solutionsare mixedin time of fire to produce a fire-extinguishing foam and has special reference to the construction and design of the devices for mixing the solutions and distributing the foam over a wide area, being particularly adapted for use in .foam systems for the protection of oil fired ships and the like. In such systems a number of foam delivery .units is required to be distributivelylocated over the tank top of the ship, which represents a considerable area, having very limited head room or space above it. The function of the units is to cover or coat the entire area substantially uniformly with a blanket of foam, in time of fire, and in the interest of economy it is desirable that each unit be effective over an area of large radius. This result has been found to be practically possible of accomplishment, with the production and delivery of foam of good quality, by means of the device herein disclosed, which is in the nature of a pipe fixture and combines, in one structure, a mixing chamber and a delivery chamber the latter having relatively re stricted foam projecting outlets.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a foam distributing system embodying the present invention, thearrangement shown being particularly suitable for ship tank tops or other risk areas having limited headroom;

Fig. 2 is a larger scale view of one of the distributor fittings or heads; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail views of the same.

In the installation shown in Fig. 1 the area to be protected is divided into three zones, each provided with its own solution supply lines designated 45, 46, 46,.45 46 respectively, this arrangement being convenient and highly efficient, although obviously not essential, and since the connections are similar for each zone reference will be made to but one of them, the corresponding indexed numerals indicating the corresponding parts in the other zones.

The solution lines 45, 46 which carry the component foam making solutions from the source of supply (not shown) are connected with a plurality of branch lines 47, 48, each of which is in turn connected to a number of suitably located distributors or heads 15, 1921. Serial No. 500,964.

49, each as shown in Fig. 2, comprising an elongated chamber, having oppositely closed ends72 and a plurality of distributivelyspaced jet openings 77. The connectionof v 1 1,650,267" UNITED LSTATES, PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR GEORGE WILLIAM GILBERT, or LQND'ON, ENGLAND, ANDFRANK n. STEINICKE,

on NEW YORK, N. Y.', nssrenons TO r'oAMIrE-crrr 7 LBS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N Y., CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. i

the branch lines 47 and 48 to the various lutions is commenced as soon as they enter the distributors.-

As shown .in Figs 4 and 5 (which are sections on the lines X--X and Y-Y' of 'Fig. 2) the jet openings may be variously distributed throughout the length of the heads, their arrangement being such as'to ensure a complete blanketing of the risk area in which each head is located assisted by the provision of a sufficient number of sub branches 73, 74 to substantially sub-divide each head 49 into a number of supply and discharge sections of short length.

Referring to Fig. 1 again, it will be seen that the heads or'distributors 50 which protect the narrow area at the end of the system are connected directly, and at their centers only, with the branch lines 47, 48, their construction otherwise however is as described above.

It will thus be apparent that we have provided an improved foam fire extinguishing system by which the foam can be dis tributed to a great lateral distance with uniformity of application and a system which is particularly suited for marine use or the protection of other places in which the con 7 struction of the necessary apparatus is subject to similar limitations as to size and form. The structure disclosed is, however, subject to modification to suit the conditions at hand without departing from the scope of the following claims.

lVe claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a plurality of means tc supply solutions forming fire extinguishing foam when mixed, and means to distribute 2. In apparatus of the class described, a lnlXll lg chamber relatively long in proportion to its cross section, and provided with opposed sets of solution supplying inlets, and

with discharge openings throughout its length, the inlets of the sets at spaced intervals.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a"

mixing chamber relatively long in proportion to cross section, and having opposed sets of solution supplying inlets, and perforate and iniperl orate portions, the imp-erforate portions at the top of the chamber, and the inlets of the sets at'spaced intervals.

4: An apparatus for extinguishing fires in the region beneaththe boiler room floor oi anoil burning ship comprising a plurality of mixing chambers distributed the between the boiler room liner and the innerbot-tom or tank top of the ship, means for conducting to said mixing chambers in time of fire chemical component solutions for poin' comixture to produce a fire extinguishing foam compound, each chamber relatively long in proportion to cross section, provided with perforate portions, and having a plus rality of pairs of opposed inlets for the several solutions. p v V 5). A distributor fitting for'foani-type'fire extinguishing systems adapted for uniformly an. inlet connection and communicating with mg chamber at a plurality of spaced said mi roughout its length. i Signed by the said VICTOR: W. G etilondon, England, this 1st day of septem her, A. D. 1921. Y

VlCTOR GEORGE -WlLLlAM GFLBERT,

Si ned be the said FRANK H. SmNIcKn;

at New York, in the county of'New York and tate of New York, this 16th day-of:

nine 

